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Welcome to Close Call Sports. CCS objectively tracks and analyzes close and controversial calls in sport, with great regard for the rules and spirit of the game. Developed from The Left Field Corner: MLB Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (UEFL), whose purpose is to objectively track and analyze umpire ejections, video instant replay reviews and their corresponding calls, with great regard for the rules and spirit of the game.

Mark Wegner wins the UEFL Umpire of the Year Award for 2017. In his 20th season in the majors, Wegner went ejection-less until the postseason, when he ejected then-Red Sox Manager John Farrell for arguing balls and strikes, drawing praise in opting not to ejected batter Dustin Pedroia for Pedroia's unsporting actions. Wegner also finished seventh in Replay with 15-of-21 affirmed calls (.714 RAP), including two in the World Series.Related Post: MLB Ejection P-1 - Mark Wegner (1; John Farrell) (10/9/17).

Wegner's heads-up year started early with a ball out of play & base award ruling on the very first day of Spring Training back in February: While players and coaches stood around after a thrown ball exited the playing field, 3B Umpire Wegner alertly awarded bases, apparently one of the only people on the field paying attention to the ball's journey as it bounced into, and then out of the dugout and back onto the playing field.Related Post: First Play of Spring - Overthrown Two Base Award (2/24/17).

In the end, it was Wegner serving as plate umpire for Game 7 of the World Series as the Astros defeated the Dodgers, marking his fifth consecutive year appearing in either the League Championship Series or World Series—the only umpire to possess such an active streak. Wegner has now made the postseason every year since suffering a torn calf muscle in 2011.Related Post: Umpire Odds & Ends: Wegner Injured (5/28/11).